Columbiana principal to move up to superintendent's office



The new superintendent has been a Valley administrator, teacher and coach.
& lt;a href=mailto:tullis@vindy.com & gt;By NANCY TULLIS & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
COLUMBIANA -- Although the superintendent's office is just down the hall from the principal's office in Columbiana High School, for Ron Iarussi, the move from principal to superintendent will be a big one.
Iarussi, the district's high school principal, won out over 30 other applicants for the superintendent's job. The board interviewed Iarussi and two other candidates last week.
During a special meeting Monday, the board granted the 38-year-old Iarussi a two-year contract as superintendent at a salary of $76,500.
He is concluding the first year of a two-year contract as high school principal. His starting pay for that position was $70,000.
"We firmly believe we have made the right choice," said board president William Greenawalt. "Ron has done a good job for us as principal, and we have a lot of respect for him. We are certain he will do well."
Robert Thomas will continue to serve as interim superintendent until Iarussi takes the district's top spot full time.
Iarussi will inherit a district facing a budget deficit and negotiations with unions representing both the teachers and support staff. Both contracts expire June 30.
Iarussi begins as superintendent July 1. He was hired by the board in July 2003 as high school principal on the recommendation of former Superintendent Patricia Hura. Hura died of cancer in October.
"I came to Columbiana with the hope of one day becoming superintendent," Iarussi said. "With the unfortunate passing of Mrs. Hura, I felt very strongly that this is something I really wanted to do. I really want to finish what she started."
Background
Iarussi is a graduate of Youngstown State University and earned a master's degree in education and his superintendent's certification at Ashland University.
Before becoming principal of Columbiana High, Iarussi served three years as director of curriculum and instruction for Struthers City Schools.
He also has served as an assistant principal in Struthers. He taught social studies and coached football at Warren G. Harding, Brookfield, Ashtabula and Columbiana high schools before beginning his administrative career.
"I came to this district last year and learned about the community," Iarussi said. "There is great potential here, and I believe we can overcome the problems.
"I will always put the concerns of our students first," he said. "It is important for the district to have a strong partnership with the community. We want to encourage families to move here. The students have set a standard of excellence we must maintain."
Iarussi lives in Struthers with his wife, Pamela, who teaches social studies at Brookfield High. They are the parents of two sons.
& lt;a href=mailto:tullis@vindy.com & gt;tullis@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;

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